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thelnnovator

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 15, 2014
35
17
Back in September, my Mac was starting to bite the dust, so I purchased a FULLY decked out 16" MBP. I'm talking, 2.4 i9, 32GB Ram, and 5600M w/ Apple Care. I wanted something that would last 3 year at least (or longer) but to get through the Apple Silicone transition period then pick up one of those when it's all ready. But these performances are INSANE. The battery life, the massive tasks not kicking in the fans, and just the utter speed. I was just now editing a simple Photoshop image and my fans kicked in hard.

I got the 5600M for gaming, but now I'm going to get a Ps5 and/or just build a gaming rig....

Do I sell this machine? ughhh

Help me decide, thanks!
 
If it makes you feel any better, I just ordered a refurbed 16” i7, 32GB, 5600M. I wanted a box I can run VMs, Windows, and not have to worry about having to recompile Linux libraries for a while. So I can now get stuff done with no worries whether Apple may be late releasing a 16” ASi laptop.
 
Especially if you got it in late September and it is still like new, you can always call Apple and see if they will let you return it under an exception. Sometimes they are pretty lenient on their policy when new models come out. I recently got a 16 inch with the same GPU and RAM as yours and it is a great computer...I purchased it because right now I need an x64-86 machine. However, if you are using it in a fashion where all of your tasks could also be done on an AS machine and you want one, it can't hurt to ask Apple about a possible return if that is the direction you want to go. Alternatively, it also has plenty of value to sell. But do the benefits really outweigh the effort/costs/drawbacks for your usage situation?
 
Processor aside, let's look at the obvious differences.

You have a 16", there is no 16" with a M1. You'd have to downgrade to 13". If that isn't a problem, why did you buy a 16" in the first place?

You have a dedicated GPU, which has VRAM as well. It's not sharing with the CPU. I don't have benchmarks at hand, but the GPU in your MBP should be more powerful than the integrated one in the M1 MBP.

You have 32GB of RAM vs only 16GB on the M1 MBP. While this is probably enough for daily tasks, you share these 16GB with the GPU, so for anything graphic intensive, your memory for everything else will drop. Also, this doesn't change the requirements for large files. If you have large files (20GB, 30GB, ...), which are loaded into memory, they don't magically shrink in size. Your memory will fill up in theses cases, hello swap. So if you bought 32GB, you hopefully did it for a reason and that reason will still be the same for the M1 MBP.

I have a fully loaded 16" as well, except for the SSD which is only 2TB (bought it when the 16" originally came out, coming from a 13"). Would I get away with the M1 for most of my tasks? Sure. I'd probably miss the 16" display most. Would I be able to do everything I do on the 16" on the M1 as well? No way. GPU is not powerful enough and memory is too limited vs my 64GB. I'm waiting for the 16" M-whatever, which will probably be a complete redesign as well. That will hopefully allow me to stay with a 16" display, 64GB RAM (or at least 32GB) and a more powerful integrated GPU (or external Apple GPU). Also the software ecosystem will be better by then. I have thought about grabbing a MacMini though, to play around with the M1 based Macs.
 
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Don't get remorseful - just remember that M1's are first genertion products. Wait it out.
 
Especially if you got it in late September and it is still like new, you can always call Apple and see if they will let you return it under an exception. Sometimes they are pretty lenient on their policy when new models come out. I recently got a 16 inch with the same GPU and RAM as yours and it is a great computer...I purchased it because right now I need an x64-86 machine. However, if you are using it in a fashion where all of your tasks could also be done on an AS machine and you want one, it can't hurt to ask Apple about a possible return if that is the direction you want to go. Alternatively, it also has plenty of value to sell. But do the benefits really outweigh the effort/costs/drawbacks for your usage situation?

It just seems really impressive. I still think I would wait until a 16" with an M1x or M2 but, the thought of not having a burning hot machine on my lap while doing tasks is sort of a game changer
 
Your computer is a great computer. It should last you 5 plus years (outside of the battery)
 
You're going to want to keep that machine. There are a ton of other things you're sacrificing if you go from a 16" MBP to a 13" M1 MBP. Eventually you'll see a new 16" M1 MBP and maybe revisit...? but even then it's not necessary.
 
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